Traction Problems

[Anonymous]

Well, I’m almost there! I have my first 55 foot layout up and running. I have 6 turns in this layout, all 22” radiuses and each work perfectly with no issues.

Except;

I have a Bachmann Spectrum PPA (Pre-War) set with a steam engine/tender and 6 heavyweight passenger cars.

On one of my turns, the engine and four cars make it through the turn when the whole train stops, while the engine’s wheels are spinning like mad. … It just can’t get the traction to pull the last two cars through. …no issues on the other 5 turns.

If I remove one of the pass cars, it slows-struggles but makes it through.
If I remove two, it seems to make it through without any issues.

I think that these Spectrum heavyweight pass cars have weights in them. Maybe removing them could help?

Is there anything I can do to either the train or the track to improve traction on this turn?

As always, thanks for the help!
Mike

[Texas Zepher]

Or some grease or other lubricant on the track at that point?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Defiantly

Well, I’m almost there! I have my first 55 foot layout up and running. I have 6 turns in this layout, all 22” radiuses and each work perfectly with no issues.

Except;

I have a Bachmann Spectrum PPA (Pre-War) set with a steam engine/tender and 6 heavyweight passenger cars.

On one of my turns, the engine and four cars make it through the turn when the whole train stops, while the engine’s wheels are spinning like mad. … It just can’t get the traction to pull the last two cars through. …no issues on the other 5 turns.

If I remove one of the pass cars, it slows-struggles but makes it through.
If I remove two, it seems to make it through without any issues.

I think that these Spectrum heavyweight pass cars have weights in them. Maybe removing them could help?

Is there anything I can do to either the train or the track to improve traction on this turn?

As always, thanks for the help!
Mike

CHECK THE GRADE ENTERING AND THROUGH THE TURN.
If you are 1.5 percent or more, bingo.
level is key if the heavyweights are lower than the engine.

[selector]

I would not remove any weight. The cars are probably optimally weighted already, and may even be LIGHT!!

No, the problem lies in either out-of-gauge wheels or track. One unlikely probability is that the curve has a vertical kink in it and the drivers are lifted off just enough to stall. However, if that is the case, another steamer with a pilot truck should do it at that location, too.

If you had a second, matching, loco, you could run it through to see if the phenomenon duplicates. If it does, its the track. If it doesn't, it is very likely your loco's wheels.

[ndbprr]

If I am not mistaken you have a PRR K4s engine. If so this is a notoriously poor puller not capable of pulling that many cars. Anything you do is going to be costly if youd ecide to try and increase the pulling power of the engine. I'd check the cars to make sure all the axles turn freely and minimize drag as much as possible. Other than that there isn't much that can be done but to reduce the number of cars it pulls. The BLI K4 as a replacement should run pulling all your cars should you choose to invest in one.

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ndbprr

The BLI K4 as a replacement should run pulling all your cars should you choose to invest in one.

Oh, yeah! [:D][8D] Easily the best loco on my layout.

[rolleiman]

No, I wouldn't remove any weight.. Is it always the Same 2 cars or does it occur with that train regardless of what 2 cars are on the rear?? If the train is pulling fine though the other 5 22" radius curves and it's just one in particular, I'd have a hard time believing it was out of gauge wheels. But it Could be the track. You may have a kink in your radius or rails out of gauge too narrow that is causing All of the trucks to bind when it passes but due to the pull of the loco, the weight of the train, and the track problem you aren't seeing it until the 5th car enters the area. Removing weight may get you around, but it's only a band-aid at best.. Fix the cause and the problem will cure itself.

Good luck,
Jeff